44. Cookie

There is absolutely no way the latest Zelda game is responsible for the one week schedule slip.

Absolutely not.

Sorry if the editing is a little scuffed, I was up until like 8pm last night making sure the translation was done to begin with so I could avoid a two week schedule slip, ahahaha.

---

TL: Toasty
ED: Toasty

---

「Next time, will you stay over?」

「Is it fine?」

At the contents of the request, Lydia anxiously asked.
The moment she was having tea with her Tordelise and her friends at Marquis August’s estate, the proposal was made by one of her friends, Stephanie.
The pajama party with her friends before was very fun, and because it’s her friends, she wanted to have it at her own estate. So inevitably, when you had to shut yourself inside during the rainy season, they would certainly have at least one pajama party. She had already gone to the August estate, and was aware of an unexpected side of Tordelise when she’s in front of her family.
As for Lydia being worried, it was the circumstances of Stephanie’s household. With the rumors, Count Witting married Stephanie’s mother, a commoner, but the reality was different.
The count deeply loved his late wife, and had no intent of remarrying. However, for the sake of continuing the house, his relatives often approached with marriage talks, and he was exhausted.
To avoid marriage talks, he sought a single woman with a child. Then, he came across Stephanie’s mother, who similarly felt the same for her late husband. She was a commoner, but the circumstances were good as they didn’t have to be in love.
For Stephanie’s mother, it was hard in a fatherless household, and was presented with the terms of assisting with her livelihood, which she accepted.
In noble society, marriage for contractual agreements is common, but for Stephanie, who comes from a commoner background where marriage for love is the usual, there are things she can’t accept. First, the count’s action of marrying because he doesn’t want to be married, even for a noble, is peculiar.
As the familial relationships weren’t built with love, until here, although Stephanie made efforts to be his daughter, she was avoiding being treated as a spoiled child. She didn’t want to cause trouble for the Count, Lydia remembered her saying something like that before.

「It’s fine.」

Tordelise and Zaskia look at her with seemingly the same worry. However, Stephanie shows them a face without the slightest bit of worry.
After they first met, it had been one and a half years, and it’s an expression she showed them after learning her attitude about being a noble’s daughter. Pushed by that smiling face, it was decided next time there was a pajama party, it would be at Stephanie’s estate.
The plans for next time decided, Tordelise asked something to Lydia, seemingly remembering something.

「Now that you mention it, what did you get as a present this year?」

「Eh, um……」

「What are you talking about?」

「Dia-sama, apart from celebrating his birthday, around this time seems to normally give Geordo-sama something as thanks.」

「That’s wonderful, isn’t it?」

「You must be thinking of your busy father, huh?」

「That’s……」

Lydia, who was asked, while her replies became weak, Tordelise explains to the two others. With that, Lydia furthermore ended up at a loss. That reason was a lie.
No, she was actually giving her father a present, but the purpose in consulting was different. This time of year, because she was unable to decide on a birthday present for when she went to go meet the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice, she consulted Tordelise about what she things she got for her father that preferred practical gifts. Unable to confide that the truth that her opinion is referencing a different person, Lydia depended on Tordelise’s misunderstanding from the start.

「……next time, rather than something, I gave a musical performance.」

While feeling bashful, Lydia admitted her present.
She learned it from Nicholas, her common friend with the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice, that he regretted not being able to hear her piano. Certainly in the past, because she was embarrassed, she didn’t want him to hear the sounds of her practicing, she said. However, she didn’t think he was honestly following along with that.
Being around the same area for work when she had piano practice, the extent that her sound reaches, he entrusts to either his father or his junior pupil, and it seems he works in the area sound can’t reach.
Because he often hums while working, certainly he likes music. Before, she had asked him why he often hums while working.

「That’s because there’s no other way to stream BGM, you know?」

It was a strange answer, but he easily said it.
She didn’t understand the meaning of his words, but conveyed he wanted to normally listen to music. Certainly for him, a commoner, attaining an environment where you can regularly listen to music is difficult. If you have a gramophone, it’s possible, but a gramophone is a device that even for nobles, those that have it are very few. Moreover, the songs that fit on the records that appear in the market, as they are classical and opera, it’s very probable it wouldn’t fit his tastes.
As far as Lydia is concerned, while listening to music one should act refined, but when she looks at the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice, her thoughts change. There is no elegance in the songs he hums.
As if to suit him, she chose a light melody with a quick tempo from a set of music, and practiced until she could play without seeing the music. Because he was able to make out some time exactly on his birthday, that day, she guided him to the piano room and gave a small recital.
The time of her musical performance, he and her younger sister Flora sat quietly, but when it was over, excitedly stood up and generously applauded her while saying she looked cool.
It isn’t a compliment she’s happy with, but because she knows it’s his highest praise, she happily accepted them.
She remembers that she thought it was funny how his eyes lit up like her younger sister’s, who was imitating his behavior. When she thinks back on that time, again a smile comes to her face.

「That’s wonderful, isn’t it?」

Perhaps inspired, Stephanie blushed, linking her hands and repeating the same words with more admiration.

「Dia-sama really cares about her family, doesn’t she?」

「Geordo-sama must be healed from his daily fatigue.」

Zaskia also says her thoughts while her eyes sparkle and Tordelise agreed.
While bestowed with her friends’ misunderstanding, she feels guilty, she said she hoped that was the case, and let out her true feelings that she didn’t have confidence in herself. There, her three friends unanimously said she absolutely ws right, and Lydia smiled again.

---

Entering the rainy season, there started to be many days with rain. However, they were rains that stopped after a few hours, and never became long spells of rain.
On a certain day when the rain broke, when Lydia went to visit the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice, before anything else, he said:

「Ojou, starting from tonight, it’s going to be a long rain.」

「Truly!?」

Presented with the possibility of having a chance for a sleepover, Lydia’s eyes sparkled.

「Well, maybe. I think it will come down for two or three days.」

For him who is water aligned, although he can read the signs of rain, his magical power is small, and he answered he doesn’t have definite proof. Because she hadn’t seen his prediction of rain miss, Lydia believed in his words.

「I should notify Fanny-sama and the others immediately.」

「Nee-sama, do you like rain?」

「I’m happy to be able to meet my friends.」

While seeing Lydia who is in high spirits and smiling, the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice explains it to her little sister who came with her. Even when he explains about the long rains first, Lydia seemed to be impatiently waiting.
Flora, who doesn’t know the particulars, again tilts her head, seeming confused.

「Why can you meet with them?」

「They’re having a sleepover.」

「A sleepover……?」

Repeating the words said by the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice, Flora spends several seconds thinking and understanding the situation. Flora, who understands, approaches Ojou, and grabs her skirt.

「Nee-sama, are you going to leave……?」

「Flora……」

Looked up at by her sister’s wet eyes, Lydia’s eyebrows fell. Last time, when she went to stay at Tordelise’s estate, when she came back, her little sister clung to her in tears.
Then, with things like tea parties or birthday parties for royalty that she attended as Roy’s fiance, because she returned before the night went on, Flora hadn’t felt lonely. However, when she went to the Marquis’ estate Flora didn’t understand the meaning, and didn’t see her sister until the next morning, crying her eyes out. For that reason, Flora was left with a negative impression that sleepovers means her sister will disappear.
She enjoys spending a night with friends, but the feeling she would be having fun withers in front of her lonely little sister.

「Flora.」

When Lydia is worried about what the right thing to do is, the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice squats down to meet Flora’s eyes before speaking.

「Are you lonely without your sister?」

At his question, Flora grabs her sister’s skirt, agreeing.

「It’s lonely……」

「I see. Then, what if Flora’s sister is sad while Flora is happy?」

「……I don’t like it.」

Hearing Flora’s dejected response, the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice smiles as if satisfied.

「Then, do you understand why Ojou is troubled right now?」

「……nee-sama, I’m sorry.」

After a few beats of hesitation, Flora looks up at Ojou and apologizes. Towards her sister who is looking forward to meeting her friends, Flora understood she was the one who ended up putting a damper on it.

「That’s, I……」

「Flora, that was great.」

Before Lydia could apologize, the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice pats Flora on the head, praising her. For that reason, Lydia missed her chance to apologize.

「Ojou, you shouldn’t apologize.」

「Eh……?」

Moreover, Lydia, who ended up having her apology suppressed, was confused.

「You’re only playing with your friends, right?」

At his words, Lydia realized it. It would be rude to her friends to apologize for looking forward to being with them. He taught her that there’s no need to apologize if she didn’t do something bad.
Lydia also leaned over to meet her little sister’s gaze.

「When I get back, let’s play around a lot. Can you wait for me?」

「Yep!」

「Thank you.」 

Hugging her sister who was holding onto her skirt with both hands, when she confirmed it with a positive reply, Lydia unconsciously smiled.

「Then, I’ll wait together with her. Since Ojou trained me, if it’s a picture book, I can read it to her.」

「Really!?」

「Yep.」

Because during times there are long spells of rain, they stay at the cabin in the Ernest estate, when the boy who is the gardener’s apprentice suggested going there, Flora was excited to have a playmate.
Having made a promise before her eyes regarding times she would be absent, Lydia wanted to join in but tightly restrained herself. He had arranged for her to go to her friend’s house without any hesitation. Being envious of that would be getting her priorities backwards.
Seeing Lydia hesitate to say something, the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice shows an awkward facial expression.

「……Ah, but, it’s bad if I arbitrarily stay on the grounds.」

「I will get permission from my mother.」

Embarrassed that she had ended up showing a complicated facial expression, Lydia was relieved he had misunderstood her.

「Because I’m also escorting heeer, it’ll be fiiine!」

Petra, her guard that was following her around, offered to accompany her, and the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice returned a thanks for her help. At Petra, who was different from herself, Lydia bit her lips as if to restrain calling her unfair. Petra looks at her master with the usual, unchanging amused smile.

---

The next day, after making preparations to stay over with her friends at Count Witting’s estate, Lydia left shortly past noon. Flora, seeing her off, didn’t have a gloomy expression and Lydia had a feeling that was like relief and also a little lonely.
The Ernest carriage went to also meet Tordelise and Zaskia, and the three of them went to Count Witting’s estate. Around the entrance, Stephanie, who was unable to wait, stood up and happily greeted them.

「Welcome, Dia-sama, Torde-sama, Kia-sama.」

「Today, we’re in your care. However, if you could wait until we’re inside, it would be better, right?」

「The sound of rain sounds the same as my excitement, so I’m looking forward to it, you know.」

「If it’s Fanny-sama.」

Towards Lydia, who worries that although the entrance has a roof, the rain might blow in and chill the body, Stephanie shows a facial expression like a patch of blue sky. The tempo of rain is the same as the ticking of her heart, and she really seems to be enjoying herself. At that kind of charm, Lydia and the others smiled a bit.

「Young ladies, welcome, and please come in.」

With Stephanie’s guidance, when they head into the interior of the estate, they’re told the maids are preparing warm tea, and are guided to her room. After entering the room, there was already a table with chairs for each person.
Shortly afterward, a cart with black tea sets and cookies placed on a plate comes.

「I hope it’s to your tastes.」

Since Lydia, from a duke’s house, and Tordelise, from a marquis’ house, are both of higher rank, the maid seems to let out those nervous words, and the maid places the cookies in the center of the table. Was Stephanie concerned about that point, as she held her mouth in a straight line, and looking down at her lap, she clenched her fists.
For Lydia, who first drinks the warm tea, takes a bite out of the cookie. The cookies, probably baked from the time they were coming, are still warm and have a gentle flavor.

「It’s really delicious.」

「Ehhh?」

「Really.」

At Lydia’s thoughts that unconsciously spilled out, Tordelise and the others also agree.

「I’m glad that it matches the tastes of the young ladies. It was worth the effort to make it.」

「「「Eh!?」」」

「Geez, mother!」

The maid sighed as if relieved from the bottom of her heart, and towards that woman, Stephanie, unable to bear it anymore, opened her mouth and protested.

「Didn’t I ask you to wear a dress today because it would surprise Dia-sama and the others!?」

「Although I don’t usually wear one at the estate, so it isn’t strange to wear it only today. That sort of thing is painful, so please forgive me for only wearing one when I go to parties with Mr. Hermann.」

「I always wear one, though.」

「It’s your mothers job to dress up Fanny up.」

Towards the maid who sleekly handles Stephanie’s objections, Lydia and the others are astonished. As for Stephanie, who nearly groaned towards the maid, realized she had neglected her friends, and lightly cleared her throat before making an awkward seeming introduction.

「I’m sorry. This is my mother……」

「It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Fanny’s mother, Nadia. Normally, I’m taking care of my daughter as a maid.」

She is mainly in charge of clothing and accessories, Nadia continued in her self-introduction. The reason she’s a maid seems to be a result of her guessing that the earl wants her to work. Unconsciously thinking that it’s impossible a countess would be a maid, Lydia and the others’ eyes go wide, mouths open.

「Nadia-sama, I’m sorry for being late in greeting you. I am—」

「Dia-chan, right?」

Somehow or another, when Lydia, who recovered first, tried to greet her, Nadia interrupted her and guessed her name.

「Y, yes.」

「I’ve heard you’re a beautiful girl. Stephanie really admires you, too. So, even if she’s poor at manners she does her best……」

「Mother!」

Don’t say something embarrassing, said Stephanie, her face turning red as she grabbed her mother’s sleeve.

「Furthermore, because Dia-sama is the daughter of a duke, so please call her properly!」

「Aww. I’m sorry, Dia-sama. Please feel relaxed in our house.」

「No, I don’t mind.」

In this kind of situation, Lydia was lost on what the best way to respond is, but she returned her true feelings. In reality, even in her own house, since there are less formal talking employees, she is used to it. However, even from here, because it would not be good to have it exposed at parties she attended, she avoids declaring she can be called informally aside from this occasion.
However, as for a mother being scolded and explained to about the way to speak to noble daughters, Lydia and the others can’t conceal their confusion at seeing this for the first time. Furthermore, that Nadia, who should be a countess, is in a maid uniform, they’re even more confused on the best way to deal with it.
At her friends that are perplexed at the state of affairs, Stephanie, who was trying to explain, opens her mouth, noisy footsteps drew near.

「Nadia-san, is it true that Fanny-chan’s friends came!?」

Batan!, went the door as it opened, and a hurried gentleman became visible. Was he greatly shaking in excitement, that he had forgotten to knock?

「It’s true. Hermann-san, here.」

「Wow, it’s true. I’m glad.」

Unlike the girls who can’t understand the situation and are gazing in wonder, the calm Nadia went over to the gentleman, and pointed at him with her palm. With the sight of giving Stephanie and the others around the table a deep impression that seemed like they would cry at any moment, he looks at them.

「Geez, even you too, Hermann-sama!」

「I’m sorry, Fanny-chan. But, because of me, I separated you from your commoner friends, right? I was worried about if you could make new friends or not……」

「You didn’t believe my stories until now!?」

「No…… perhaps, you were worrying about me…… I couldn’t believe it until I saw it with my own eyes.」

Towards Stephanie who is angry, Hermann says his apologies.
At the time Stephanie joins tea parties, she’s escorted by either Hermann or one of his attendants. As for not ever accompanying her aside from when she enters or exits a room, it seems he was considering it would be easier for her to make friends with other children.
Because they had seen him as an escort to tea parties, Lydia and the others knew he was Count Witting. However, with only the extent of greetings, he had the ambience of a gentleman, and with their impression of him up to here, doubts on whether or not this person with such colorful expressions was the same person.

「I’m glad for you.」

However, Lydia, who worried that Stephanie was being taken care of by two parents without love, thought that. She was only surprised, but as for being loved by both of her parents, this much was enough to understand.
Hearing the mumbled words he doesn’t know, Hermann softly smiles.

「I apologize for being late in my greetings, young ladies. I am this family’s head, Hermann. I am incredibly happy that you would come during the rain.」

「Hermann-sama, this is a girl’s room, you know.」

When the girls are pointed out, Hermann says he is very sorry, and at how he bows his head, and conveys to Lydia, who has the highest status, that he hopes she’ll forgive him. Because she saw the worried look on his face around the time he came in, Tordelise and the others were already ready to forgive him. Lydia was only the representative.

「Hermann-san, if we’re here, we’ll be in the way.」

「That’s right. Since I already have peace of mind, I’ll head back.」

「Mom, Hermann-sama, quickly leave already!」

Feeling the vigor of Stephanie who puffed her cheeks, Nadia smiled while saying 「I get it, I get it」 and left, and Hermann left with a cheerful 「Take it easy」.
Stephanie, embarrassed at her parents’ meddling being shown off, closed the door, and afterwards, whether to gloss over or calm down, kept silent until she finished her tea.

「……I showed you something embarrassing.」

「Fanny-sama is strong at home.」

Thinking that if there was a hole, she would end up jumping into it, when with a gradually fading voice, Stephanie mumbles, Tordelise said something as if to admire her.

「I’m not strong. Mother just doesn’t listen to me at all.」

Her mother’s ways are villainous, Stephanie says, puffing her cheeks as if recalling getting mad.

「Fufu, I also end up saying such strong things in front of my family.」

「Kia-sama too?」

「So, it’s absolutely necessary the next pajama part is at Kia’s house.」

At Kia, who confessed that she is also prone to acting boastful at home but reserved outside, without checking if it’s okay, Tordelise decides the next place for a sleepover. At her friends’ exchange, seeing a point in common, Lydia is a little relieved and surprised.
The circumstances of their houses differ, but they all considerably had a side to them that was more haughty in their homes. Tordelise has many brothers at home and needs to make her claims, the usually cheerful but firm in front of her family Stephanie, Zaskia who at first was very menial about her complex with her curly hair was the same. In other words, they’re all in a situation where they can be spoiled by their families.
Lydia is the opposite. At first, she didn’t understand if it was good to be spoiled by her family. So, she scattered selfishness towards her surroundings, and at the beginning acted in a mistaken and spoiled way. If it hadn’t been pointed out to her by the boy who is a gardener’s apprentice, she may have mistaken the way forward.
Even now, was she ending up jealous of her friends? However, she can think that right now she is fine. She’s happy with that and naturally a smile shows itself.
After drinking tea to conceal her smile, Lydia joins in with the talk of her friends.

---

Late into the night, the four of them used a guest room with a large bed so they could all sleep together.
Time passed quickly when talking and telling stories with friends and sleepiness didn’t come even during the time that they usually get sleepy. With that, Lydia and the others went under the cover and waited until sleep came, holding a pillow in their arms.

「Isn’t it weird how we can’t sleep?」

No matter the amount of times she experiences it, Lydia mumbles that it’s strange.

「Certainly, if you count sheep, it seems fine.」

「How do you count sheep?」

「Umm… it’s a method spread by the shepherds of my house, an older woman in the neighborhood said it.」

When Tordelise tilts her head, Stephanie answered it’s an oral tradition from the commoners.

「I’ve never actually seen a sheep, but are they cute and fluffy things like Kia-sama?」

Lydia, who is close to the information she heard, when she thinks about it, compares it to Kia’s curl hair that just entered her vision. At those words, Zaskia’s cheeks turn red and she buries her face in a pillow.
At her reaction, Lydia immediately apologies, not having meant to tease her.

「Sorry, Kia-sama. I……」

「T…… that’s not it……」

「Kia-sama?」

Zaskia immediately denies that her feelings were hurt. However, because she doesn’t begin to say anything beyond that point, Lydia and the others tilt their head in confusion.

「……um, Caesar-sama, because he looks like me, before……」

As for Caesar, it’s the name of the marquis’ son who offered Zaskia a marriage proposal. Because there’s no reason to refuse, she and her parents acknowledged it and they became officially fiances. She recalled what her fiance had told her, and her cheeks ended up becoming red.

「In Marquis Gellerman’s territory, there’s areas where livestock are flourishing.」

「Dia-sama is very knowledgeable, isn’t she?」

At Lydia, who says that’s right, Stephanie looks at her with a respectful gaze.

「I will lose to Roy-sama.」

When Lydia is lacking knowledge, she forces a smile. Lydia hears tales of various regions from Roy, who has a wide field of vision. His ability to remember and how he can make eyes light up when he tells a real story not just from books, but also people who came from that region, is amazing. On the occasions she goes around as a fiance, so she won’t be a burden on Roy, she studied geography, but she was troubled because the memories of amazing stories he told her are more memorable. 

「The prince might be amazing, but Dia-sama is also amazing!」

Towards Stephanie, who sincerely admired both, Lydia was humble, and gives her a small look.

「Thank you.」

Because she also felt a little bashful, Lydia gave her thanks. Understanding she was being praised, Stephanie smiles, satisfied.

「So, what happened when you were invited to Marquis Gellerman’s territory?」

「I declined, saying it was too early……」

At Tordelise’s encouraging her to go on, Zaskia lowered her eyebrows, answering while buring her face in a pillow.

「Are you disliked by Caesar-sama?」

「I don’t know about that, but wouldn’t it have been better to accept it?」

「But, even though being engaged is like a dream, the mental preparations for visiting his parent’s home……」

At Tordelise’s advice, Zaskia suddenly raised her head from the pillow with teary eyes. At her fiance’s ability to make a decision, Zaskia seems to be perplexed.

「Kia-sama, can you try to tell us how it is without change?」

「You don’t dislike that……?」

At Zaskia’s frightened eyes, Lydia kindly smiles.

「I only know Caesar-sama from Kia-sama, but I feel that Kia-sama really pines for him.」

At Lydia’s words, Tordelise and Stephanie also strongly agreed. Zaskia may not be aware of the incredibly happy face she shows only when talking about her fiance. Receiving her friends’ support, Zaskia’s face turns red, and she asks if that’s so, her voice gradually vanishing.

「Conveying it honestly is very frightening and you need a lot of courage. However, with the time you’re worrying, if you don’t tell it, absolutely nothing will move forward.」

Being able to tell your true feelings is scary. With being able to convey that to the other person that she doesn’t want them to dislike her, she was also ready to be hurt. How many times had Lydia been scared, and how many times had she received support?
If only she could be like him, she thinks, but she can only talk about her experiences. She can help her friends with this, can’t she?

「……Dia-sama, it’s scary for you too?」

「It’s scary, yes.」

Thinking only her approval wouldn’t be enough, Lydia, towards the uneasy Zaskia, speaks her own mind. Certainly, she must be smiling miserably.
Zaskia, with the hand that is holding onto her pillow, tightly squeezes a fist.

「I’ll… do my best……!」

At Zaskia, who resolved herself, Lydia and the others let out a sigh of relief, and give her supportive words.

「It’s fine, right?」

Saying only a few words, with Stephanie surprisingly jealous, Lydia’s eyes open a bit.

「Does Fanny-sama also want that kind of partner?」

「Of course.」

「However……」

She hesitated on her words beyond that. For a girl who has seen her mother grieve the loss of her husband she loved greatly, she’s learned a fear of loss. And furthermore, she can’t understand what it felt like to see her mother marry for her sake, without love. Her current relationship with her parents felt like a different matter.
Contrary to Lydia’s worries, Stephanie easily talked.

「For me, I want to fall in love because I look at my parents now.」

「Eh……」

「Until her second marriage, my mother tried not to talk about my father. But, after she married Hermann-sama, she talks a lot about him.」

While she was a single mother, tried not to burden her daughter too much, so Nadia avoided talking about her father. However, she didn’t have to hide it with Hermann-san, a partner who also had a spouse die before him. Rather, because it was Hermann, who understood the same grief and the same joys, they could approach each other with the same talks. So, Nadia and Herman became allies.
Furthermore, Hermann didn’t force Stephanie to see her as a father. Knowing he was trying to be an adult she was on good terms with, Stephanie gradually let go of her nervousness. If she had been forced into the frame of his family, she might not have been able to get on with living in noble society.

「When I see my mother and Hermann-sama talk about someone they love, I feel like being in love is lovely.」

It wasn’t licking each other’s wounds, but because they think about the person they love, both of her parents stand on their own feet, which Stephanie was proud of. She isn’t in love with the idea of losing someone, but even if she loses someone, she wants to keep living like her parents, that is what she admires.

「That’s wonderful, you know.」

「Right?」

Receiving Lydia’s words, Stephanie proudly smiled. No matter what was said to her in her surroundings, because there is love between both of her parents when they married, she can be prideful. Her friends recognizing that made her happy.

「……um.」

Lydia raised a hesitant voice, and the three gazes of the girls gathered on her.

「If…… if I said that I don’t like Roy-sama as my fiance, would that be contemptible……?」

Lydia, who finished saying that, tightly closes her eyes and waits for her friends’ response. She can’t tell them everything about the engagement agreement with Roy, but she wanted to open up a bit about her true feelings to her friends. Saying no more and falling silent, she had a feeling she was rude to her friends.
With a feeling like a defendant waiting for judgment, Lydia endures until the consequence of her confession comes.

「Not at all?」

Stephanie naturally said that.

「Roy-sama is wonderful, so that’s a regrettable feeling, but if Dia-sama thinks that, there’s no helping it, right?」

Tordelise was the one who seemed to regretfully reflect on the difference between reality and aspirations.

「When Dia-sama finds someone she likes, I will absolutely support you……」

Telling the story of a future, Zaskia encouraged her.
The three of them told Lydia their own separate words without denying her. Attacked by a large sense of relief. Lydia lost her strength. She buried the side of her head in her pillow.
With an expression showing she was starting to feel sleepy, Lydia looks to her friends and puts on a smile filled with happiness.

「Everyone, thank you.」

With her friends reflecting back a face to say it wasn’t a problem, she had a premonition that night, she would see good dreams.
Then, in order to have wonderful dreams visit her friends, Lydia prayed, before sinking into the depths of her dreams. 

---

Overall a fairly chill chapter, yeah? I liked the bit with Flora/Ojou at the start, plus Stephanie’s parents made me laugh. Especially when her adoptive dad came in like “WHERE’S YOUR FRIENDS”.

Not a whole lot to say; sorry for the one week schedule slip, but even I have hobbies outside of translating, haha. I’ll try not to let it happen again.

See you all next chapter.

---